Slide construction

ABSTRACT

An elongated strip of relatively flexible material having a plurality of spaced apart generally longitudinally extending relatively narrow ridges on the upper surface thereof and adapted to be secured to a hillside for receiving toboggans and the like in sliding engagement thereon.

United States Patent Eunice A. Carlin 5301 Hollywood Road, Edina, Minn. 55436 Appl. No. 797,969

Filed Feb. 10, 1969 lnventor Faria Randazzo... Heckman...

Horton 3,443,493 5/1969 Del Piano... 3,459,107 8/1969 Anderson Primary Examiner-Nile C. Byers, Jr. An0rneyMerchant & Gould Riner ABSTRACT: An elongated strip of relatively flexible material having a plurality of spaced apart generally longitudinally ex tending relatively narrow ridges on the upper surface thereof and adapted to be secured to a hillside for receiving toboggans and the like in sliding engagement thereon. 4

sum; CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention: In utilizing toboggans and the like, such as the toboggan described in my copending application filed Mar. 8, I968, Ser. No. 711,554, entitled Roll-Type Toboggan, it has always been necessary to find a hill with certain favorable surface conditions thereon. In general, the main usage of toboggans and the like occurs in the winter time on hills covered with snow and/or ice. However, under certain conditions steep hills having dry grass or the like thereon are sufficiently slippery to provide satisfactory sliding action. In all previous cases the use of toboggans and the like are severely limited since satisfactory conditions are not always present.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to an improved slide formed from an elongated strip of relatively flexible material having a plurality of spaced-apart generally longitudinally extending narrow ridges affixed to the upper surface thereof and means adjacent one end for afiixing said strip adjacent the upper por- Zion of a hill.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved slide for toboggans and the like.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a slide which can be utilized at substantially any time of the year and anywhere that a relatively open hill is available.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the accompanying specification, claims, and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the FIGS.:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the improved slide affixed in position on a hill;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in top plan of one end of the slide illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view as seen from the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view as seen from the line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in top plan, similar to FIG. 2, of another embodiment of the slide; and

' FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the FIGS. the numeral 10 designates a hill or other incline having an improved slide, generally designated 11, affixed thereon. The slide I1 is formed as long as desired, and in the present embodiment is sufficiently long to extend from adjacent the top of the hill 10 to adjacent the bottom thereof. The slide 11 is utilized to form a surface suitable for the use of toboggans and the like thereon regardless of the time of year or the conditions of the hill 10 at that time.

The slide 11 is formed of an elongated relatively flexible strip of material 12, which material may be a plastic such as polyethylene or the like, fiberglass cloth, paper products, etc. In general, it is preferred that the material be relatively inexpensive and durable as well as adaptable to the contours of the hill 10.

A plurality of longitudinally extending ridges are afiixed to the strip of material 12 so as to extend outwardly from the upper surface thereof to support a toboggan or the like in spaced relation from the strip of material 12. The ridges 15 are relatively narrow and present a greatly reduced overall surface area in contact with the underside of the toboggan. Also, the material forming the ridges 15 may have a relatively low coefficient of friction in conjunction with the underside of the toboggan, so that a toboggan will slide freely and rapidly over the slide 1 I.

In FIGS. 1 through 4 the ridges 15 are formed from cord, which may be constructed of plastic, fiberglass, etc. The cord is affixed in the strip of material 12, by some convenient method such as sewing, pushing the cord through preformed holes, e.tc., so that a plurality of adjacent loops 17 are formed. The loops 17 extend through the strip of material 12 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) in spaced-apart parallel rows to form the ridges 15. By forming the loops 17 relatively short the material is stiff enough to support a toboggan or the like in spaced relation from the strip of material 12 and provide low resistance to the movement of a toboggan thereover. It should be understood that more or less loops l7 and ridges 15 may be provided on the upper surface of the strip of material 12, depending upon the type of material used to form the loops 17 and the rigidity or weight carrying capacity desired. A secondlayer of material 18 is placed over the bottom surface of the strip of material 12 and the portions of the cord or loops 17 extending therethrough. The layer of material 18 is utilized to hold the loops 17 in position and may also add rigidity and/or durability to the strip of material 12. It should be understood that the layer of material 18 may simply be glue or some other material which is in the liquid state when placed on the rear surface of the strip of material 12 and later hardens or the material 18 may be a second strip of material similar to the strip of material 12 which is affixed in place by gluing orthe like. It should further be understood that the layer of material 18 need not completely cover the lower surface of the strip of material'l2 and the size and thickness thereof will depend primarily upon the type of material utilized in the layer of material 18 as well as the type of material utilized in the strip of material 12.

An unexpected result was obtained, during experimental use of a specific slide 11 having ridges 15 formed of fiberglass cord. It was found that a polyethylene toboggan, as described in the aforementioned copending applicatiomtravels along the slide 11 at a faster rate after extended use on the slide 11. It is believed that there is a transfer of material between the fiberglass cord and the polyethylene toboggan which causes this phenomenon.

Some means for affixing the slide 11 to the hill 10 must be incorporated to prevent movement of the slide 11 while toboggans and the like are traveling thereon. In the present embodiment a pair of grommets 19 are affixed in holes adjacent one end of the slide 11. To afiix the slide 11 to the hill 10 ropes or the like are threaded through the grommets 19 and affixed to some stationary object such as stakes 20 inserted in the hill 10 at the top thereof. Many other means might be utilized to anchor the slide 11 on the hill 10 and the present device is illustrated because of its simplicity.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 another embodiment of the slide 11 is illustrated wherein similar parts are designated with the same numeral having a prime added to indicate it is a partof another embodiment. In this second embodiment the ridges 15' are formed by providing in the strip of material 12' a plurality of spaced-apart longitudinally extending corrugations. The corrugations or ridgeslS' are held fixedly in position by affixing a layer of material 18 onto the rear surface of the strip of material 12' by some means such as gluing, heat sealing, etc. Many other forms of ridges may be devised by those skilled in the art and the two embodiments l5 and 15 are simply examples.

In the operation of the present device the slides 11 or 11' are affixed to the surface of the hill 10 with the ridges 15 or 15 extending outwardly from the upper surface thereof and generally parallel with the fall line of the hill 10. A toboggan is placed at the upper end of the slide 11 or 11' with the underside thereof in engagement with the upper ends of the ridges 15 or 15' and an occupant of the toboggan guides it along the slide 11 or 11' as it moves down the hill 10. The ridges 15 or 15' have a tendency to aid in guiding the toboggan as well as supporting it above the strip of material 12 or 12' with a minimum amount of friction. Additional means may be devised by those skilled in the art to aid in guiding the toboggan down the slide 11 and material such as wax or the like may be placed on the ridges 15 or 15' to aid in reducing friction.

I claim:

1. An improved slide comprising:

a. an elongated strip of relatively flexible material;

b. a plurality of spaced-apart, relatively narrow ridges formed of fiberglass cord affixed to said strip so as to extend outwardly from the upper surface thereof; and

0. means adjacent one end of said strip for afiixing said strip on the ground to maintain said strip in a desired position.

2. An improved slide as set forth in claim 1 wherein the ridges extend generally longitudinally along the strip.

3. An improved slide as set forth in claim 1 wherein said elongated strip is formed of a plastic material.

4. An improved slide as set forth in claim 3 wherein the plastic material utilized is polyethylene.

5. An improved toboggan slide comprising:

a. an elongated strip of flexible material having a substantially smooth upper surface;

b. a plurality of longitudinally extending, at least partially deformable ridges affixed to said strip of material in upwardly extending relationship, said ridges being spaced apart transversely on said strip of material;

c. the area of said strip of material between said ridges being relatively flat and free of obstructions; and

d. means adjacent one end of said strip for affixing said strip on the ground to maintain said strip in a desired position.

6. An improved slide as set forth in claim 1 wherein the ridges are formed of adjacent portions of cord extending outwardly through the upper surface of said strip from the rear surface thereof.

7. An improved slide as set forth in claim 6 wherein the cord forming each ridge is a substantially continuous piece and the outwardly extending portions are formed of a plurality of adjacent loops of said cord extending through holes in said strip.

8. An improved slide as set forth in' claim 6 having in addition means for holding the portions of cord fixedly in place. 

1. An improved slide comprising: a. an elongated strip of relatively flexible material; b. a plurality of spaced-apart, relatively narrow ridges formed of fiberglass cord affixed to said strip so as to extend outwardly from the upper surface thereof; and c. means adjacent one end of said strip for affixing said strip on the ground to maintain said strip in a desired position.
 2. An improved slide as set forth in claim 1 wherein the ridges extend generally longitudinally along the strip.
 3. An improved slide as set forth in claim 1 wherein said elongated strip is formed of a plastic material.
 4. An improved slide as set forth in claim 3 wherein the plastic material utilized is polyethylene.
 5. An improved toboggan slide comprising: a. an elongated strip of flexible material having a substantially smooth upper surface; b. a plurality of longitudinally extending, at least partially deformable ridges affixed to said strip of material in upwardly extending relationship, said ridges being spaced apart transversely on said strip of material; c. the area of said strip of material between said ridges being relatively flat and free of obstructions; and d. means adjacent one end of said strip for affixing said strip on the ground to maintain said strip in a desired position.
 6. An improved slide as set forth in claim 1 wherein the ridges are formed of adjacent portions of cord extending outwardly through the upper surface of said strip from the rear surface thereof.
 7. An improved slide as set forth in claim 6 wherein the cord forming each ridge is a substantially continuous piece and the outwardly extending portions are formed of a plurality of adjacent loops of said cord extending through holes in said strip.
 8. An improved slide as set forth in claim 6 having in addition means for holding the portions of cord fixedly in place. 